60 Regional Police officers complete Peacekeeping training in Rwanda

Sixty police officers from the eight Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM) member countries, on September 20, 2013 completed a two-week United Nations Police Officers Course (UNPOC) at the Peacekeeping Training Centre in Gishari, Rwamagana District, Rwanda.

The course dubbed “Turning Professional Police Officers into Competent Peacekeepers” was attended by officers from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and the host, Rwanda.

Major Sarah Fadl Ahmed, one of the trainees from Sudan said that “We have used one stone to kill two birds by acquiring efficient professional skills, attitudes and knowledge concerning peacekeeping and other skills that are very important in our daily work as a career police officers.”

“I wish, on behalf of my fellow participants, to thank Rwanda National Police for hosting us in this beautiful country. I’m now a good and a confident peacekeeping police officer who can efficiently fulfill assigned duties,” she reiterated.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, who presided over the closing ceremony, congratulated the school management, trainers as well as graduates for conducting and completing the course.

He also thanked EASFCOM for choosing Rwanda to conduct the 39th UNPOC course.

The United Nations Police Officers Course is a result of the multilateral cooperation among regional countries.

It aims at capacitating the officers, particularly, in Peace Support Operations and to enhance regional cooperation and stability in general.

“I thank our sister police forces from Eastern Africa region that availed their officers to participate on this course and reassure that we stand ready to join hands with them for the good of our nations” IGP Gasana said.

“Policing work is dynamic; we face dynamic challenges and trends of various crimes, hence, police forces should be on standby refreshing themselves through vigorous training such that we can have a common understanding on the procedures to be followed while undertaking these challenges both in the region and beyond,” he added.

“Rwanda National Police won’t spare any chance that calls for training and I urge all countries represented here to incorporate training of its police Officers in all its strategic planning,” he emphasized.

Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Ogwal Charles, a trainee from Uganda said, “I’m now an international police officer. This course has left me with skills that enables me serve well not only my country but also elsewhere in the world”.

He, however, suggested the course to be extended to all regional officers.

The course covered a wide range of subjects such as UN, AU peace operations, human rights protection, women, peace and security, code of conduct, cultural awareness, stress management, safety awareness, gender and sexual exploitation, hostage survival skills, safety precautions.

Major Sarah Fadl Ahmed, one of the trainees from Sudan, said, the “We have used one stone to kill two birds by acquiring efficient professional skills, attitudes and knowledge concerning peacekeeping and other skills that are very important in our daily work as a career police officers.”

“I wish, on behalf of my fellow participants, to thank Rwanda National Police for hosting us in this beautiful country. I’m now a good and a confident peacekeeping police officer who can efficiently fulfill assigned duties,” she reiterated.

60 Regional Police officers complete Peacekeeping training in Rwanda